Pain is tricky business and years ago when we didn’t know about all of the troubling issues regarding opioids they were often prescribed to patients in pain either as an alternative to surgery or after a procedure. In recent years, medical doctors and surgeons have moved away from the use of opioids as a primary pain treatment and now often refer patients for acupuncture (this is one of the reasons our practice has grown so much in the past few years), massage or physical therapy instead, as well as relying more heavily on non-addictive pain medication.
Acupuncture and Pain Relief
Chronic pain can be debilitating for those suffering from it and directly impacts quality of life. People often treat chronic pain with anti-inflammatory medications (both prescription and over-the-counter), physical therapy, or with ice and heat, but those options don’t always provide long lasting relief. Which is why people then seek out more and stronger medications to help deal with the chronic pain. This, in turn, can lead to drug dependence and an addiction to finding relief from the pain.
What acupuncture does best is not to merely address the pain, but to treat the underlying cause of the pain. For example, acupuncture is often indicated to treat chronic pain conditions that radiate pain along a nerve pathway, pain causing muscle spasms, inflammation, scar tissue, and pain that is located in multiple areas of the body. Stopping the cycle of chronic pain is the best way to begin.
Perhaps the first benefit acupuncture offers in the treatment of pain is that it does not introduce chemicals into the patient’s body. Acupuncture is a natural way to address chronic pain by detecting the underlying issue causing the pain. By the placement of the needles, we are activating the natural hormones in your body to initiate healing from within.
Acupuncture has been proven to alleviate stress, reduce inflammation, and improve mood without any chemical interference. This makes acupuncture a tremendous option for those suffering from chronic pain.
As an entirely holistic process and with thousands of studies in support of its use for a variety of conditions, acupuncture has become a trusted pain management option. Many leading national hospitals including Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson, Cleveland Clinic, and others offer acupuncture as part of various treatment programs. Some of the most trusted groups in the nation have endorsed the use of acupuncture, especially for treating chronic pain. These groups include the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Pain Society.
We are proud to be able to help our patients who are in pain, sometimes we can provide a “cure” and other times we can help take the edge off so you need to take less medication or so you can live life more fully. If you or someone you know is suffering, we are here for you. Make an appointment today to find relief.
Best wishes- Alpine Acupuncture
